Field Hockey
August 30th - Massachusetts
Game Preview
Colgate opens against a NCAA quarterfinalist. UMass won last years game 4-0. They return an excellent goalie and all star foward.
Results
All you can say, is these two teams are not even in the same class. Colgate played as best as they could, but they were so out played you really couldn't learn anything about the team. 7-0 U Mass
September 1st - Rhode Island
Game Preview
Colgate has done ok against them in the past, but this year they have retained almost thier entire team.
Results
Colgate did play well, the mood was still upbeat and positive. Things stayed very even for the early part of the game. Colgate made mistakes, but recovered from them very quickly. I leave for 15 minutes, and when I get back, I see we're down 4-0. I guess thats the last time I leave a tied game. Colgate was still playing well. If I saw one area that needs improvement, it is our passing and transition game. Colgate did score thier first goal of the season, en route to a 7-1 defeat.
Spetember 3rd - Richmond Game 1
Game Preview
This is the first meeting for these two teams. Richmond has graduated 5 of it's letterwinners from last year.
Pre Game
Two days ago, Colgate lost to RI 7-1. Yesterday, Richmond beat RI 5-2. I'm not saying anything else.
Results
Colgate came out swinging. For the first 15 minutes, both sides looked even. Richmond was holding on to the offensive runs longer, but Colgate was not without it's moments. Once again, the opposition would score first on a nice bad angle shot. A second goal was added soon and Coach Foto called a time out, and for the first time, looked like she was upset with the way the team was playing. The team continued to play with intensity, but was on defense most of the time. After fanning on a clearing attempt, the Spiders capitalized, to make it 3-0. 2 minutes later, a penalty corner shot was sent into the Red Raider net with just a few seconds left in the half, and for teh sake of argument, the game, 4-0 Richmond. But luckily, the second half is a whole new game here at the Red Raider sports fan page.
September 3rd - Richmond Game 2
Game Preview
Richmonds got the same team, the same skills, heck, its the same day!
Pre Game
After 35 minutes of play, Heather Rice has proven to be a major thorn in Colgate's side, scoring 3 times in "Game 1". Colgate has shown it can hold Richmond when they are playing thier best, and that they can put together an offensive run or two.
Results
This game was very competitive. Despite losing the first game 4-0, Colgate would not give up and continued to put pressure on Richmond. The Red Raider's made some really nice plays on defense and working the ball upfield. Finally, with about 3 minutes left, Christine Thomas knocked one in to give Colgate the lead. There was no resting just yet, Richmond quickly evened the score. With just 47 seconds left, Thomas once again managed to find the back of the net, to give Colgate the final lead. Hat's off to Meredith Metcalf, who really worked hard during both these games. It may have felt like a victory, but unfortunatly the NCAA doesn't buy into my theory that the second half was actually a different game. So, they will tell you that Colgate lost 5-2. But the Red Raider's proved that they do have it in them to play against some top competition.
September 9th - Fairfield 1 pm
Game Preview
Colgate was selected to share the league crown with the Stags this year. That means this is going to be one of the most important games of the season. Colgate had a 10 game winning streak going over Fairfield until last seasons 3-2 overtime loss.
Pregame
The Red Raiders are in a different position right now. They lost several games against good teams, but ended on a somewhat positive note. The team will need to put thier losses behind them and only remeber the level of play that they were reaching for in those games. Fairfield has shown they have some offensive power, Colgate will need to contend with that.
Results
Colgate did play hard, but came up short again in the most important game of the season. Mistakes cost Colgate, all three of the Stags goals came off a corner shot, two off a penalty corner. Colgate and Fairfield split the offensive time, but Fairfield was shooting a whole lot more. Colgate only had 4 shots on goal during the game. Compare that to 23 shots on goal from Fairfield. The league title is still a possibility, but a bit harder to get after this 3-2 loss.
September 10th - Maine 12 pm
Game Preview
Maine has won 5 in a row against us, including last years 4-2 win. They also beat Holy Cross, but lost to Fairfield.
Pregame
Maine is 2-2 right now, putting up some good defensive numbers. Both thier wins have been by shutout. They are going to be a tough, but beatable team.
Results
Colgate fell behind early, so even when the game was competitive, the score wasn't. Working from our passing game up to a shot continues to be a problem. After a 3 goal first half for the Black Bears, Colgate was able to hold them to just 1 in the second half. Maine doubled Colgate on shots on the day, this is a problem Colgate needs to solve before the next league games.
September 13th - At Syracuse
Preview
Syracuse is another tough team to be facing. They topped Colgate 2-1 last year. Some people may say Syracuse is having a rebuilding year, but with 8 starters coming back, they would argue against that.
Pregame
Syracuse currently has just 1 loss against them. They also beat Fairfield in overtime just a few days ago.
Results
Colgate fought hard early on, then faded away in the second half. One Syracuse player set a team record by scoring 4 times during the game. Colgate was still outshot 4-1 and allowed 15 penalty corners. The Red Raiders played strong for most of the game, and are still trying to develope despite the circumstances of being 0-6 with only 6 goals this season.
September 16th - Lehigh 1 pm
Game Preview
Last years Mountain Hawks went 4-14, including a 1-5 league record. Colgate bested them 1-0. Thier two league goals was a league low. They return 7 starters this year, and the preseason poll puts them narrowly in 6th.
Pregame
Lehigh enters this game at 3-2. They have not been producing many goals, but they are not allowing many either. This could be a tight game if Colgate let's it's guard down at all on defense. They need to keep pressure on all game, and put a shot or two away. Let's look for Colgate's first win.
Results
Kristine Thomas makes Colgate's losing streak a thing of the past! She scored twice of Lehigh, once unassisted to provide all of the Red Raider's goals, she also led the team with 7 shots. The team had 11 shots overall, with Lehigh taking 19. 9 big saves kept Colgate in the game. The team played the way they needed too, and are now 1-1 in the league after a 2-1 win.
September 20th- Cornell 7 pm
Game Preview
Once more the Big Red meet the Red Raider's. Last year the game went to Colgate in an overtime classic. Cornell went 8-9 last season, and has lost 7 letterwinners.
Pregame
If Colgate has one advantage, it's that Cornell only has 3 games played so far. They upped thier record to 2-1 after an overtime win in thier last game against Columbia. They have scored 4 goals while allowing 9. They have not been shooting a lot either and have made some defensive mistakes, if Colgate can capitalize on the penalty corner, they can win.
Results
It's hard to think of a team with our record having an off night, but thats what this was. Right from the get go Colgate did not look into it. It was a frustrating night for the Red Raider's. The offense just wasn't there and there wasn't enough defense to hold off the Big Red for long. 4-0, Cornell.
September 23rd - Holy Cross 12 pm
Game Preview
Last year the Crusaders were involved in a 3 way tied for third place in the league, Like Colgate, they had a 3-3 record. They also handed Colgate thier biggest loss of the year in a 8-1 game at Hart Field.
Pregame
Holy Cross is currently number 1 in the league with a 2-0 record. One of those wins was a 1-0 win over PL favorite, Fairfield. They have only allowed 3 goals so far this season. So Colgate is going to have its work cut out for them.
Results
You can't win without offense, Colgate took only 8 shots today, and just one of them in the second half, two of those shots were on goal. Colgate tried to change things up by starting Sara Corcoran, probally just to give Nat a night off, you really can't blame anything on her and she has been one of the most positive team members. Well, here we are 1-8. It's been a tough season, we picked some tough competition, and just never really started to rise to the occasion, then you can start getting down on yourself, and winning becomes even harder. The schedule is going to get easier. Will Colgate be able to recover?
September 24th - Vermont 1 pm
Game Preview
Vermont was 1-17 last year, and has also lost a considerable amount of players. Colgate defeated them in overtime last season.
Pregame
UVM is currently 2-4. In their first game they suffered a 5-0 loss at the hands of Holy Cross. In thier last game against Sacred Heart, they scored 7, but before that the most they have in any game is 2 goals.
Results
Early on, things looked very bad. The first half was all UVM. The Red Raider's came to life in the second half, putting the pressure on the Catamounts. We were even taking a lot of shots, but none of them found the goal. We are averaging less than a goal a game while the opposition is getting 4.5. Hopefully things have started to get better though.
September 30th - At Columbia
Game Preview and pregame
Last season Colgate lost 1-0 to Columbia. This season they share with us a 1-0 defeat of Lehigh. They also hold a win over Bucknell and a 3-2 loss to Cornell. What can make you nervous though is how they lost to a nationally ranked team 3-1 and stayed with them the whole game. That shows intensity and desire. Colgate will need to find a little of both to make anything happen in this game, and in the middle of a slump, insensity and desire can be hard to come by. Hopefully we hit bottom in the first half of the UVM game and will begin to see a turnaround in progress today.
Results
A lack of offense once again stopped the Red Raiders. Players are playing well individualy, but they are not working together the way they need to to win games. The Red Raider's took just 4 shots on the night. That's not going to cut it against a tough Lions team. Colgate's midfield and defense performed well, holding Columbia to just 3 goals. Sara Corcoran is now handeling most of the goaltending responsibilities for Colgate. Columbia takes the 3-1 win.
October 10th - At Albany
Game Preview and pregame
After some time off, the Field hockey team is ready for thier final push of the year. Albany will be a good match for them. The squad went 11-4 last year, and only lost two players. This year they are currently 7-5. Like Colgate, they lost to Syracuse and UMass, but they defeated Maine this season. This is the first meeting for these two teams. Let's see how much Colgate improved on thier time off, and how competitive they will be for the rest of the season..
Results
Colgate started slow and was never able to fully recover. The first third of the game was all Albany, and Coach Foto pulled some of the team leaders from the field to show them what was happening and restated they they are the ones who need to make things happen. And it worked. Colgate scored a season high, 3 goals. It wasn't enough to beat Albany, but showed some signs off life. The team is now 1-11, facing thier worst record ever, but they are still just 1-2 in the league, a battle that is far from over. Colgate losses 6-3.
October 14th - At Lafayette
Game Preview
The Leopards, last years champs, were predicted to drop to the number 4 slot after losing some important players. They do retain an excellent goalie though. Last seasons squad was ranked nationally, but the game against Colgate went to overtime, before the Leopards finally won, 3-2
Pre Game
The Leopards are 1-2 in the league after beating Ursinus, but losing to Bucknell and Fairfield. They have been ok on offense, but pretty good from the defensive end of things. Colgate can win this game. I believe they can and should. It's going to come down to whether they can concentrate the whole game and work together. It's not too late to save their standing in the league...
Results
Isn't it funny how history repeats itself? Colgate put forth a great effort, not relaxing at all. The Leopards scored first, but Colgate would even things up and send the game into overtime. Colgate continued to hold up, but they could not hold off Lafayette forever. The final score was 2-1 Lafayette in overtime.
October 18th - At Bucknell
Game Preview
Bucknell is one of our biggest league rivals in any sport. Last year, we found ourselves in a tie with them for third place, but we won the game against them 3-1. The Bison do have some key returnees this year, and will once again be in the top half of the league.
Pre Game
This one is a must win if Colgate wants any chance of a post season. The Bison are 2-2 in the leauge, playing each league opponent very close. Both teams are on the bubble for the tournament.
Results
Colgate's defense held on long enough to give Colgate a chance. The game was tied at intermission, and both teams were able to regroup. Bucknell scored first, but the Red Raiders did not give up. They scored the next two goals, but the Bison would even the score again with just minutes left in regulation. The game went to overtime, where Johanna Harvey netted the exciting game winner. Colgate gets its second win of the season, and surprise, surprise, they are still in the playoff race. 3-2 Red Raiders in overtime..
October 21st- Quinnipiac
Results
The Red Raiders actually played the game fairly evenly, taking thier shots, moving the ball up and down the field. But a flurry of goals at the end of the first half put Colgate away, the Red Raiders lose 5-1...
October 22nd- Providence
Results
In a season where there hasn't been much to cheer about, the field hockey team and it's follwers pulled out all the stops in a thrilling game at Tyler's Field today against Providence college. When Colgate scored one minute into the contest, you would have thought the team had won the championships. Surrounded by friends and family, the team celebrated in front of a backdrop of banners and signs recognizing the teams seniors for thier achievments and dedication over the years. The rest of the game would not be as easy. The teams traded goals and battled up and down the field for both regulation halfs. It was the typical way things have been going this year. The opponents goals all seemed to look easy, while Colgates required a total team effort and skill and concentration. Early on, the Friars controled the game, but over time the momentum swung to the opposite side of the field. There would be no goal though, and both teams anxiously awaited the overtime period. I was right on the goal line when Thomas threw the ball at the net and the ball just slipped under the goalies leg and into the back of the net. A wild celebration ensued both on the field and in the stands. The Colgate team piled on the scorer, and in a change of style, the sound guy even allowed for a reprise of the teams entrance music. As the team celebrated, some of the Colgate parents, one of whom was banging on a garbage can in the stands all day to motivate the crowd, also met on the field and began hugging each other and rolling around on the ground. This led to the quote from one of the players.. "Um, my dad is hugging you dad." The coach was even chased down and hugged, you could not tell that this was a team that was just winning thier third game of the season and not the national championship. For the seniors, it was a great way to leave Tyler Field, for everyone else, it gave them a little taste of success and even a little bit of fun at home. .
October 28th- At Ursinus
Game Preview
Ursinus was last in the league last year, with a 3-14 overall record. Colgate defeated them 5-0. 18 letterwinners are back for the Bears, while 4 have graduated. The preseason polls place them right back where they ended last year, in last place, by 1 point to Lehigh..
Pre Game
This is amazing really, if Colgate wins this game, they will make the playoffs. You can't your chickens before they hatch though. Ursinus is 1-5 in the league, beating Lehigh. There have been some close games, 4 of the 6 league games have gone to OT. Ursinus has allowed 20 league goals, tops in the league. This means Colgate controls it's own fate. If they play the way they should, then they will win this game handily. It's in their hands now.
Results
The Patriot League season ended on a surprising note. Devon Graham scored twice in the first half, to cause a 2-2 tie at halftime. Both teams battle it out through the second half, but Ursinus puts in two, while Colgate can't find any more offense. That's the way it's going to end for Colgate this year, a 4-2 loss to Ursinus, Colgate was predicted to finish first in the league, they will finish the league schedule next to last.
October 29th- At Hofstra
Results
Colgate pushes hard all game, but only manages 6 shots, the defense plays well, but allows 1 goal near the end of the first half, and that was enough to clinch the win. Field hockey season is over with this 1-0 loss.
Season review
Well, let's see if we can figure out how this all happened. Colgate finishes the season at 3-15, good for the worst record in Colgate Field hockey history. Let's start at last spring, when Coach Foto quit her job as the womens lacrosse coach to personally lead spring practices. Colgate graduated 2 all league players at the end of last year. Coach Foto was very impressed with the improvements each player made individually in the offseason. Immediatly before the start of the fall season, Colgate was picked to finish in a tie for first in the league. The early season did not look very promising. The schedule was tough, and the team allowed 5 goals or more in the first 3 games. The Red Raiders still looked somewhat decent in their league opener against Fairfield, but lost. After that, the tailspin really begun. Players stop playing like a team, and each player tried to force something to happen. As the losses piled up, the team started to just go through the motions, and play slowed down, they started to just react to what the other team was doing, instead of trying to control the pace of the game. Colgate had trouble shooting all season, the Red Raider's were not setting up offensive plays well, and it seemed that no one wanted to take the shot. This led to fewer penalty corners, and so on and so on. Colgate was outscored 23-71 on the season, and outshot nearly 2-1. The team showed some signs of life in the second half of October, and the games were played a lot more evenly, there just wasn't enough there to preserve the season. We were a win shy of being admitted to the league playoffs. What should we do next? I'm sure the team will be busy once spring practice starts next semester, and most likely we will see a few new drills for them to work on. It might be hard to recruit for next years team, but keep in mind, most of Colgate's recruiting centers around academics and not necessarily the team itself. Colgate's only all league selection, Kristine Thomas, will be back next year, as well as 5 of the 6 players who scored a goal for us this year. 4 seniors will be graduating, leaving Colgate with a hole to fill on the defensive end of the ball. 6 freshman and sophomores saw significant playing time, including both goalkeepers. Colgate also might benifit by not playings so many top ranked teams next to each other in the schedule. Perhaps a few more evenly matched teams might be better for next year, and a confidence builder or two wouldn't hurt. I don't know what to expect for next season, but I believe the worst is behind us and there's no reason not to be positive that things can turn around for next season, as the Red Raiders will once again make a run for the crown, they just won't be the preseason favorites to do it.
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